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Katharine Hepburn and Atheism

In this 1973 interview on the Dick Cavett Show, Katharine Hepburn clearly and concisely explains why I and so many others are atheists and have absolutely no use whatsoever for religion. Religion is, for me, a distraction from what we should be doing in life – being good people and helping others.

Listen to this short but magnificent interview segment. Here are a few highlight quotes from the interview, but do listen to it in its entirely. You’ll be glad you did.

“I never felt the slightest interest in the next world. I think it’s here and I think anything good that you’re going to do you should do for other people here and not do anything to make yourself have a happy time in the next world.”

“I don’t believe in religion… I believe in Christ. And I believe in the example of a perfect human being… He certainly proved that if you can live for other people away from yourself you will be happy. And if you live for yourself, you will be unhappy.”

“Insofar as people do live with the other fellow in mind they have to be happy. Because it raises you up.”

“After all, we have no notion as to what the next world is, if there is one. So, there’s no point in that.”

“Committing a stinking act to someone else should make you unhappy. If it doesn’t, you’re diseased. And you certainly are miserable.”

Dick Cavett said to Hepburn during the interview, “Morality is self-evident.”